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 Father 'beside himself' as 12-year-old daughter falls pregnant 

Father 'beside himself' as 12-year-old daughter falls pregnant

16 Jun, 2009 10:13 AM
The NSW Department of Community Services says it could have looked closer at the case of a 12-year-old, now pregnant and set to become one of the state's youngest mothers, but it had to deal with more urgent cases.

The girl's mother let the child's older boyfriend move into their home when she was 11, and reportedly allowed the two to sleep in the same bed.

When the girl's father, who was separated from her mother, found out about this he pleaded with DoCS staff to do something but they failed to act, Dubbo MP Dawn Fardell said.

He took custody of his daughter in March after his ex-wife was placed in a mental health unit, which was when he discovered she was pregnant, Ms Fardell told NSW Parliament in March.

"The father is beside himself," she said.

DoCS this morning acknowledged it had been aware of the girl's case.

"DoCS had received reports about this girl previously," a spokeswoman said.

"Because of more urgent cases, the department took some action to investigate this case, but acknowledges more intensive casework could have been done."

Community Services Minister Linda Burney said her department's response had not been adequate.

"It's my view that we did not do enough in the case of intervening for this young girl," she told 2GB this morning.

DoCS was now working closely with the family, and would provide counselling and parenting services for the girl and "look at the best options for the baby", the DoCS spokeswoman said.

The girl's father and his partner would raise the baby, Ms Fardell said.

She said the girl's father had also claimed his daughter's boyfriend had "a history" and was "known to all the services".

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Date: Newest first | Oldest first
Daddy should have been around for his child long before this happened. As for mummy she is a disgrace
Posted by poss777, 16/06/2009 11:11:52 AM
Outrageous !!! It's not the parents these kids need protection from.... it's DOCS ! That department needs a large broom straight through it. How appalling.
Posted by Wayno, 16/06/2009 12:05:44 PM
This wasn't the same mother that encouraged her daughter to "hit her again" in the girl fight at Wallsend last week.?? Maybe it was just the same type of mother. Sick
Posted by The Bird, 16/06/2009 2:31:02 PM
Gee, sounds just like the assistance i got from Port Docs for all those years......... none. And shock, horror, this girls mother just walks away.
Posted by what a joke, 16/06/2009 3:55:21 PM
Ministerial responsibility dictates that Burney resign over this 'inadequacy'. Only when the malfunctioning DOCS can result in a ministerial resignation will the appointed minister stand up and deal with its failures.
Posted by pablo, 16/06/2009 5:29:51 PM
my son has been on to docs for some time now about his ex partner being erattic in the car with his kids ,drinking to excess and wanting to take the kids out of state.we both hv been telling/reporting this erattic and volitile behaviour to docs ( for the last 8 months)she has said she was going to kill her self with a drug overdose sent pics of herself swollowing tablets then text messages of her last words.she refused to tell my son where she was .only to say the kids will be ok as they hv enough food n water in the car to survive until some one finds them.this is just on of the things we hv reported to docs .STILL NOTHING THEY CAN DO CANT HELP until they have evidence that she has hurt the kids.this to me is outragous.what do they need to act apon these situations ?? to find the car weeks later with 3 bodies inside 1 1yo 1 2yo and the mother.all they can do is document what un tell them but heres the catch when u need this info for a court hearing they wont give u this information back or support ur case as the information is confidential.DOCS if they cant help what do we hv them for WAIST OF OUR MONEY.what a joke joyce
Posted by joyce, 16/06/2009 5:55:28 PM
My 12 year old son has run away from home to live on the streets, i went to docs and the police, they checked i wasnt abusing him and then said there was nothing they could do. it was ok for a 12 year old to move out of home if he wanted and have nowhere else to go. he is now on drugs, in trouble with the police and apparently his girlfriend is pregnant, but still they wont help. as a parent i have no power to stop him from destroying his life, i have lost all faith in our society.
Posted by another dad frustrated, 17/06/2009 11:21:08 AM
The whole dcs (vic) is run by women and dont get involved when women are involved, when men are involved they move very quick.
Posted by David, 17/06/2009 3:17:16 PM
How does a 12 year old 'fall pregnant'? It's not like falling off a bike!
Posted by ralf, 17/06/2009 4:07:32 PM
A government department (no matter how well intentioned) will ever be a viable substitute for a responsible parent.
Posted by Rhetorical Rambler, 17/06/2009 5:28:29 PM
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